UPRAWR Podcast Uprawr Short: Why Venues Need Nightclubs To Survive
Apr 21, 2025
Discover how crucial nightclubs are for the survival of small-to-mid venues. Jack reveals that these venues rely heavily on club nights for financial stability. He highlights how gigs often fall short of covering costs, with most income coming from bar sales. The decline in drink sales is crippling, and the diminishing number of independent promoters adds to the crisis. Without club nights, many venues face closure, threatening opportunities for up-and-coming bands. It's a deep dive into the vital economics of live music.
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Small-Mid Venues Depend On Club Nights
- Venues between ~100–1000 capacity rely heavily on club nights to survive financially.
- Above ~1500 capacity venues generally don't need club nights because ticket and other revenues suffice.
Gigs Rarely Cover Opening Costs
- Gigs generate very little direct profit for venues once opening costs are counted.
- Promoters and venues often earn small shares of ticket revenue and struggle to cover fixed staffing and technical costs.
Falling Drink Sales Shrink Venue Revenue
- Drink sales at gigs have declined countrywide, reducing a key venue revenue stream.
- Audiences drink less on weeknights and overall bar takings no longer match past averages.